How to Survive and Prosper as an Artist: Selling Yourself without Selling your Soul
by Caroll Michels
- Paperback: 368 pages
- Publisher: Allworth Press; 7 edition (April 10 2018)
- Language: English
In the newly published Seventh edition of this popular artist self-help book, author and artist career coach Caroll Michels gives a step-by-step overview to launching an art career. The author begins with a lament that too many artists are reluctant to treat their career as a business, with a caveat that the recent trend towards artists treating themselves as “artpreneurs” and worrying about their “brand” might not be the most appropriate way forward. This book aims to set out a clear path for artists looking to thrive in the fine-art market, dominated by the commercial gallery system and a dealer network.
The books strengths are in the chapters focusing on dealers and commercial galleries, as befits an author whose day job is helping artists secure exhibitions and gallery representation.
The chapter on press relations includes great examples of how to write a press release and a press pitch, how to schedule press with a 12 month lead in to an exhibition, and a plethora of ideas on where to send your marketing materials.
While chapters on art marketing and social media are also included, these are less in-depth chapters, and readers who want to maximize their social media presence should look towards other resources.
I highly recommend this book as a resource for artists who are either ready to turn their art practice into a viable career in the fine art world, or for artists who are already in the trenches and want to arm themselves with relevant information to help them get to the next level. The book is aimed squarely at the fine art-market, more than the fine-craft, and more towards artists looking to be in the fine-art world than looking for DIY resources.
Posted May 8th 2018 by Peter D Harris